Research Assistant, Politics and Public Opinion

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) is seeking a full-time research assistant to work with scholars in AEI’s Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies department who specialize in American politics, elections, polling, and demographic trends. The new research assistant will begin in summer 2025.

Responsibilities for this position include assisting with research, writing, and editing for books, articles, op-eds, and media appearances. Additional responsibilities include using statistical software to clean, manipulate, and analyze data, as well as using data visualization software to develop charts and graphs. Duties also include long-term projects and administrative support. Finally, this assistant is responsible for helping plan and execute conferences and events.

Desired skills for this position include excellent organizational and writing skills, attention to detail, and a demonstrated interest in American governmental institutions, elections, social policy, and demographic trends. Knowledge of current events, politics, and economic news is also important.

Qualified applicants should submit their resume, a cover letter demonstrating their interest in AEI’s mission, academic transcripts, and a 500-word writing sample on a topic in American politics with their online application at www.aei.org/jobs.

• Research and Editing:
  
  • Provide research and editorial assistance to assigned scholars for blogs, op-eds, articles, reports, and books.
  • Perform data and statistical analysis to investigate political and demographic research questions.
  • Assist with preparation for weekly podcast recordings.
  • Coordinate number checking and fact-checking for all scholars’ research products.
• Administrative Support:
  
  • Provide communication and administrative support related to scholars’ work among various AEI departments and teams, including Government Relations, Academic Programs, Development, and the media team.
  • Coordinate public events and private meetings.
  • Manage the scholars’ contacts database.
  • Oversee scholars’ content on AEI’s website.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions at AEI

• The employee is regularly expected to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard. This job requires close-up vision for computer work.
  
• The employee must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
  
• The employee must be able to work in a confined area.
  
• Moderate noise (e.g., from computers, phones, printers, and light traffic) is expected.
  
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities associated with this position.

• A bachelor’s degree in political science, sociology, statistics, or a related field at the start date is required.
  
• Candidates should have 0–2 years of previous applicable full-time work experience; previous internship experience is strongly preferred.
  
• Candidates should have
  
  • Professional writing, editing, research, and quantitative analysis experience (preferred);
    
  • A demonstrated interest in public opinion research, demographic trends, political behavior, and current events;
    
  • Experience with quantitative methods and research (knowledge of R and Stata is a plus);
    
  • Excellent editing and proofreading skills;
    
  • Proficiency in performing administrative and logistical coordination tasks;
    
  • Strong interpersonal skills; and
    
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, and Word).

Benefits

AEI offers generous benefits, including 18 days of paid leave (15 days of paid annual leave and 3 personal/floating holidays); 12 days of paid sick leave; paid family leave; medical and dental coverage, in addition to a health savings account; medical and dependent care FSA; a tuition assistance program of up to $5,200; life and disability insurance at no cost to employees; and a 403b retirement plan with a 12% contribution from AEI, among other benefits. For more information, you can see a full summary of our benefits here.

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to: scope and responsibilities of the position; a candidate's full-time, applicable work experience; key skills and qualifications; as well as internal and external market considerations. The salary range for this full-time, exempt position is $50,000 - $54,000. Salary is just one component of AEI’s total compensation package for employees.